Curtain stretcher clamp



Patented Nov. 14,1933

yUl'lED STATES CURTAINS-TRETCHER CLAMP Clarence G. Carlson, Chicago, Ill.', a's'signor to v Chicago Curtain Stretcher Company, Chicago, I Ill. a corporation of Illinois Application January 31, 1933. SeriaLNo. 654,440

' Claims. (01315 -24).

This invention relates to clamps for adjustably securing the corners of a curtain stretcher frame and the like, the principal object being to lock the adjoined rails of a'curtainframe against slippage when the clampis tightened; The present device is advantageous in that it is exceedingly simple, may be operated with facility to clamp adjoined frame rails in desired positions of adjustment, and is otherwiseeffective for the pur poses for which it is designed.

Asuggestive' embodiment of my invention is 11-- lustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

Figure l is a View in'elevationof a corner of a curtain frame showing two adjoined rails locked by the present clamp; V

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section on line Toilock the two rails in a desired position of 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail insection on line 44 of Fig. 3; and V v Fig. 5 is' a view in perspective of the contact plate. I

A curtain stretched frame with which the present clamps may be associated comprises certain rails of which two, A and B, are shown, The

rail B is rested against the end of the rail A, and.

by the present clamping device maybe secured in a desired position of adjustment. Similar clamps are provided at each of the corners of the frame.

The clamp consists of the metalstrap 's' which is bent into the general form of a loop. The looped end 6 is extended out beyond one end of the railthe adjoined rail B when the latter is placed against the end of railA, as shown in Figs. 1, 2

and 4.

I provide a contact plate having parallel slots 16 near its opposite ends. Theseslots are aligned with the two legs of the strap so that the latter may extend through the slots whereby to guidingly support the plate. A slight offset 17 in one of the strap legs serves as a stop to limit movement of the contact plate in one direction.

Through the two legs of the strap near the looped end I provide aligned holes 20 furnishing a pivotal mounting for a cam device 0 which may conveniently be made of round wire. The portion of the wire extending between the two strap legs is crimped to provide a cam surface 21 which is engageable with-opposite edges 22 of a slot 23 formed inthe plate between the two end'slots 16. Adjacent one end of the slot is a struck-up lug '24 serving as a stop for the cam. One end of the wire 'is turned in "line with its own'axis to provide a trunnion 25 which is journaled in'one of'the holes 20. Opposite theftrun nionrend thewire continues axially'as at 26 and is thenturned laterally to provide an eye 27 which serves as an operating handle. A wire cam device of the kinddescribed may be confined rotatively in'place, with the twostrap legs furnishing bearings therefor, and when so se cured is non-displaceable from its mounting.

When the rail B is fitted within the looped end of the strap so asto lie against the end of the rail A, the contact plate is slipped back, to a position adjacent the outer face of the rail B.

adjustment, the handle 27 is manipulated to rotate the cam device so as to bring its crimp into engagement with the contact plate. The

' final position-towhich the cam device is movable is reached when the latter comes to rest against the stop 24. The position of the stop isdesirably such as to limit movement of the cam to a position just past center as shown in Fig. 4. When so positioned, pressure is maintained by the cam against the contact plate and the 'rail B whereby to clamp the latter against the end of the rail A so as to prevent relative movement therebetween.

The present device may be operated repeatedly with little or no wear on the parts which are engaged. In addition, it obviates many of the objections which inhere in a screw mecha- 1 nism. For all purposes, including ready adjustment of the rails of a curtain stretcher frame,

the present clampis admirably suited, and its "rugged simple character will assure dependable service over a long period of time.

I claim:

1. In combination with a frame rail, a strap which is looped to provide parallel legs engageable with opposite sides of the rail, means for securing the strap to the rail with its looped end v extended beyond the end of the rail against which a second frame rail is slidingly receivable within the strap loop, a contact plate slotted to receive therethrough the strap legs and guidingly supported thereby adjacent one face of the frame rail last named, and a camdevice pivoted to I swing between the strap legs and against the contact plate to clamp the latter against the second frame rail.

2. In combination with a frame rail, a strap which is looped to provide parallel legs engageable with opposite sides of the rail, means for securing the strap to the rail with its looped end extended beyond the end of the rail against which a second frame rail is slidingly receivable within the strap loop, a contact plate slotted to receive therethrough the strap legs and guidingly supported thereby adjacent one face of the frame rail last named, and a wire extending between the strap legs having therebetween a crimp preventing its endwise movement, the wire crimp serving also as a cam to engage the contact plate when the wire is moved to rotative position requisite for this purpose, the contact plate being thereby clamped against the second frame rail.

3. In combination with a frame rail, a strap which is looped to provide parallel legs engageable with opposite sides of the rail, means for securing the strap to the rail with its looped end extended beyond the end of the rail against which a second frame rail is slidingly receivable within the strap loop, a contact plate slotted to receive therethrough the strap legs and guidingly supported thereby adjacent one face of the frame rail-last named, and a wire extending between the strap legs having therebetween a crimp preventing its endwise movement and a lateral bend forming a handle exteriorly of the strap loop, the wire crimp serving also as a cam to engage with the contact plate when the wire is moved to rotative position requisite for this purpose, the contact plate being thereby clamped against the second frame rail.

4. In combination with a frame rail, a strap which is looped to provide parallel legs engageable with opposite sides of the rail, means for securing the strap to the rail with its looped end extended beyond the end of the rail against which a second frame rail is slidingly receivable within the strap loop, a contact plate slotted to receive therethrough the strap legs and guidingly supported thereby adjacent one face of the frame rail last named, a wire extending between the strap legs having therebetween a crimp preventing its endwise movement, the wire crimp serving also as a cam to engage the contact plate when the wire is moved to rotative position requisite for this purpose, whereby the contact plate is clamped against the second framerail, and means integral with the contact plate forming a stop by which to limit movement of the cam to a desired position. V

5. In combination with a frame rail, a strap which is looped to provide parallel legs engageable with opposite sides of the rail, means for securing the strap to the rail with its looped end extended beyond the end of the rail against which a second frame rail is slidingly receivable within the strap loop, a contact plate guidingly supe ported by the strap legs adjacent one face of the frame rail last named, and a cam device pivoted to swing between the strap legs and against the contact plate to clamp the latter against the second rail.

' CLARENCE G. CARLSON. 

